Hydraulic regulator



" Jan. 19, 1943. EH, wHlTE v 2,308,731

HYDRAULIC REGULATOR Filed Bag. 11, 1939 s sheets-sheet 1 5? INVENFOR v EVEKETT H. WHITE 2] '4 A'i'TORNEY Jan. 19, 1943. E. H. WHITE 2,308,731.

HYDRAULIC REGULATOR I Filed Dec. 11, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an hydraulic regulator for the remote control of devices which require motive power to effect their operation, as, for example, heating plant dampers; steam, water, oil or gas valves; circulating fans or blowers; automatic stokers; intake and mixing valves; etc.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an hydraulic regulator of the character as illustrated, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,984,558, for Hydraulic regulator, granted December 18, 1934, and which will include various novel and improved features and characteristics of construction designed with the end in view of rendering the present hydraulic regulator an improvement generally over the hydraulic regulator disclosed in said mentioned patent.

An object of the invention is to provide a regulator for the remote control of devices requiring motive power to effect their operation which will include hydraulically actuated mechanism novel and improved construction.

A further object is to provide a regulator which will include novel and improved hydraulically and electrically actuated mechanisms adapted to cooperate with each other to the accomplishment of the remote control of devices requiring motive power to effect their operation.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved hydraulic regulator which can supply ample power to operate heavy devices, such as heavy dampers, large valves, etc., that require considerable power to effect their operation, and hold the services in open, or operative, positions, and at the same time cause the devices automatically to close, or be situated at safety positions, in case of current failure for any cause.

Further objects are to provide in the regulator, hydraulically and electrically actuated mechanisms which will present improved features and characteristics of construction novel both as individual entities of said regulator and in combination with each other.

With the above objects in View, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of an hydraulic regulator made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view, partially broken away, of the hydraulic regulator of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially on line 3-3 in Fig. 2, or substantially as on line 3-3 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 3A is a detail view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially as on line 44 in Fig. 3, and disclosing broken away parts;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially as on line 55 in Fig. 3, with parts omitted;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially as on line 6-43 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a detail elevational view, taken substantially on line 11 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a wiring system which the regulator employs, additionally disclosing other features of said regulator; and

Fig. 9 is an elevational View, partially in section and partially broken away, of an hydraulic regulator of modified construction made according to the invention.

A casing or housing l5 of the hydraulic regulator provides a desirably annular chamber l6 defined or bounded as to its diameter by the cylindrical side wall of said casing or housing and defined or bounded as to its length by opposite end walls I! and 18 of said casing or housing. The end wall I! as disclosed is constituted as a permanent closure member of the casing or housing l5, and the end wall i3 is constituted as a removable upper closure member or cover for said casing or housing. The upper end of said cylindrical side wall of the casing or housing I5 includes an outwardly extending, annular flange l9, and the upper closure member or cover It is fastened down against said annular flange in any suitable and convenient manner, as by headed and nutted bolts 20.

The upper closure member or cover l8 integrally carries spaced apart bracket elements 2|, three as shown, all in a single plane at a side of the casing or housing I5, and each bracket member 2| includes an opening 22 to receive means, such for example as a nail or screw, for the purpose of stably securing said casing or housing upon a suitable support therefor. That is, means assembled with the bracket members or elements 2| are adapted to be secured in or to any suitable and convenient support (not shown) for the hydraulic regulator.

The upper closure member or cover l3 includes a concavity 23 thereof at the side of the body of said upper closure member or cover opposite the annular chamber 25, and in the disclosure as made said concavity 23 is disposed substantially axiall of the cylindrical side wall of the casing or housing l5. Also, the upper closure member or cover 53 includes a bearing 24, which is horizontally disposed in the disclosure as made, for a shaft 25. A lever 26 fixed upon an end portion of the shaft is for the purpose of actuating devices which are in remote relation to the hyraulic regulator and require motive power to effect their operation, examples of such devices being heating plant dampers; steam, water, oil or gas valves; circulating fans or blowers; automatic stolrers; intake and mixing valves; etc. The opposite end portions of the lever 2'5 include openings 21 for attachment of the lever to devices to be operated, although any other suitable and convenient arrangement for associating said lever with said devices can be employed. The lever is arranged substantially horizontally and is situated at the outer side of the upper portion of the casing or housing 15 in adjacent relation to said casing or housing.

A piston or plunger 28 is reciprccably mounted within the casing or housing 15. More explicitly, the piston or plunger 28 is mounted to be slidably movable longitudinally of said casing or housing over the interior surface of its cylindrical side wall. An electric motor 29 is rigid with the piston or plunger 23, above said piston or plunger as disclosed, and the construction and arrangement are such that when said piston or plunger is reciprocated, said electric motor reciprocates, or moves, with the piston or plunger. tated otherwise, said piston or plunger and said electric motor are built as a unitary structure capable of having reciprocatory movement within the casing or housing [5.

A rod integral with the shell 3! of the electric motor 29, at the side of said motor opposite the piston or plunger 28, which is the upper side of the electric motor in the disclosure as made, is disposed axially or centrally of said piston or plunger to in effect constitute a connecting rod for the piston or plunger. The free or upper end portion of said rod or connecting rod 33 is disposed between spaced apart arms 32 of a bifurcated lever and is oscillatably mounted upon a cross pin 34 situated in said spaced apart arms 32. The bifurcated lever 33 is situated in the concavity 23 of the upper closure member or cover i8, and the end portion of said bifurcated lever opposite the cross pin 34 is fixed, as at 35, upon a portion 35 of the horizontal shaft 25 situated within said concavity 23.

The piston or plunger 23 includes a disc frame 37 and a usual annular working element or leather 33 made rigid with said disc frame, as by screw bolts 39. The motor shell 3! rigidly supports the usual elements of an electric motor, including its stator 40 and its rotor or armature 4 l. Upstanding, spaced apart posts 42, four as shown, arranged at ninety degrees apart, and at the side of the disc frame 31 opposite the annular working element or leather 38, are integral with said disc frame and are disposed within said motor shell 3! in engaging relation with the interior surface of its side wall, as will be clear from Figs. 3 and 5. The outer or upper end portion of each post 42 the electric motor includes a threaded opening, and screws 43 pass through holes in bosses upon the base of the motor shell 3! and enter the threaded openings in said posts to make the motor shell, and its appurtenan es, rigid with the disc frame of the piston or plunger. That is, the posts 42 locate the electric motor 29 and he piston or plunger 28 against relative sidewise movement, and said posts and the screws 43 in cooperation with each other 10- cate said electric motor and said piston or plunger against relative longitudinal movement. The disc frame 31 as disclosed has four spaced apart Misses 44 thereon, including a boss 44 between each pair of adjacent posts 42, and all of the bosses 44 and posts 42 are disposed in a single circumference. See Fig. 5. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the inner portions of the screw bolts 33, which secure the disc frame 37 and the annular working element or leather 38 to each other, are situated within the bosses 44.

A compression coil spring 45, within the annular chamber IS and about the electric motor 29, bears at one of its ends against the upper closure member or cover [8 and at its other end against the adjacent face of the disc frame 31 of the piston or plunger 28. An annular rib 46 extending inwardly or downwardly from the closure member or cover I8 is within the adjacent or upper end portion of the compression coil spring thus to locate this mentioned end portion of said compression coil spring, and the opposite or lower end portion of the compression coil spring is in surrounding relation to the posts 42 and the bosses 44 thus to be located. Said compression coil spring 45 is adapted normally to cause the piston or plunger 28 to be situated at its furthest position from the closure member or cover l8, about as disclosed in Fig. 3, adjacent to or against the closure member IT.

A bearing member 41 integral with and situated centrally of the disc frame 3! extends perpendicularly from the side of said disc frame which is opposite the annular working element or leather 38, or upwardly, and the shaft 48 of 29, which shaft is rigid with the rotor or armature 4!, is rotatably mounted in a bushing 49 suitably and conveniently fixed in said bearing member 41. The inner or upper end of the motor shaft 43 engages a thrust receiving element 50 arranged centrally of the base of the motor shell 3| at the inner surface of said shell, and the rod or connecting rod 39, said thrust receiving element 50 and the motor shaft 48 are in alinement with each other in direction longitudinally of the casing or housing IS.

The disc frame 3'. includes a central portion or pump casing 5| which is offset in direction toward the lower closure member IT, or downwardly, and said offset portion or pump casing El is hollowed out or cut away to provide an annular pump chamber 52 of a rotary type pump of the hydraulic regulator. The inner or upper end portion of the pump chamber 52 is closed by an end wall constituted as an annular shoulder 53 of the disc frame 31 in surrounding relation to the outer or lower end of the bearing for the motor shaft ;8 provided by the bearing member 4'1, and the outer or lower end portion of said pump chamber is closed by a cap 54 secured, as by screws 55, up against the surface of the central offset portion 5| of said disc frame 3'! which is adjacent the closure member IT. A stop member 55, annular as shown, integral with the outer or lower surface of the cap 54 is adapted to come into engagement with the inner surface of the closure member I! to limit the movement of the piston or plunger 28, and its appurtenances, in direction away from the closure member or cover IS.

A cylindrical impeller 51 is eccentrically situated within the annular pump chamber 52 with its external cylindrical wall in engagement with the internal cylindrical wall of said pump chamber. The external cylindrical wall of the impeller has diameter less than that of the internal cylindrical wall of the pump chamber, and said impeller and pump chamber together provide a crescent shape cavity 58 at the side of the impeller and pump chamber opposite the point or location of engagement between the external cylindrical wall of said impeller and the internal cylindrical wall of said pump chamber. The impeller has dimension in direction axially thereof equal to the depth of the pump chamber 52. Evidently, the crescent shape cavity 58 has depth equal to the width or thickness of the impeller, as well as equal to the depth of the pump chamber.

An abutment 59 is associated with the impeller and with the pump casing 5| to the purpose of separating or shutting-oil? the high pressure side of the pump from the low pressure side of said pump. Said abutment 59 is constituted as a rectilinear strip of desirably rigid material. The outer end portion 50 of the abutment or strip 59 is fixedly secured in the pump casing 5| and the inner end portion 5! of said abutment or strip is arranged, more or less freely, in a radially disposed slot or groove 52' at the circumference of the impeller 51 and extending the full width or thickness of said impeller perpendicularly thereto. The rectilinear strip which constitutes the abutment 59 has width equal to the depth of the pump chamber 52, and the opposite side, or upper and lower, edges of said abutment or strip 59 terminate flush with the opposite, or upper and lower, surfaces of the impeller 52. In the direction of its length the abutment or strip 59 is disposed radially of the pump chamber 52. and in the direction of its width said abutment or strip is disposed perpendicularly to the pump casing 5| and the impeller 51.

The central offset portion of the pump casing 5| includes a well 63 at the side of the pump chamber 52 adjacent the abutment 59, and an intermediate portion 64 of said abutment extends across or through said well. The abutment di.-- vides the well 63 into an inlet chamber 55 at the low pressure side of the pump and an outlet chamber 66 at the high pressure side of said pump. The inlet chamber 55 communicates with the pump chamber 52 through an elongated. passageway 51 at said low pressure side of the pump and directly adjacent the abutment, and said pump chamber communicates with the outlet chamber 66 through an elongated passageway 68 at said high pressure side of said pump and directly adjacent said abutment. An inlet port 69 extends through the disc frame and leads from the space of the annular chamber .15 which is at the electric motor side of said disc frame. the upper side of the disc frame as illustrated, to the inlet chamber 65, and an outlet port extends through the cap 54 and leads from the outlet chamber 66 to the space of said annular chamber I6 which is at the side of the disc frame opposite said electric motor, the lower side of the disc frame as illustrated. A small annular element H integral with the disc frame 31 at the side of said disc frame adjacent the electric motor 29 is in surrounding relation to the adjacent end of the inlet port 69, and a small screen 12 in covering relation to the outer or upper end of said small annular element ll is for the purpose of insuring that no solid particles or foreign matter will enter the pump chamber 52 by way of said inlet port 59.

The pump includes means for causing the external cylindrical wall of the impeller 51 to be rolled, slid or frictionally moved progressively over the internal cylindrical wall of the pump chamber 52. The motor shaft 48 fixedly carries a crank or eccentric 13 adapted to the purpose of accomplishing rotative movement of the axis of the impeller 51 and its external cylindrical wall. The crank or eccentric I3 is rotatably mounted in a centrally arranged opening 14 through the impeller 51. Rotation of the motor shaft 48 causes the crank or eccentric T3 to revolve and thus accomplish rotative movement, or movement in a circle, of the axis for the impeller 5'! and its external cylindrical wall in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. Such movement of the impeller axis causes said impeller to be moved in direction toward and away from the abutment 59 so that the inner end portion SI of said abutment becomes situated at variable depths in the slot or groove 52 as said axis for the impeller is rotated or moved in a circle. The construction and arrangement are such that said abutment is never removed from said slot or groove. Rotative movement of the axis for the impeller 51 also causes the external cylindrical wall of said impeller to be rolled, slid or frictionally moved or advanced over the internal cylindrical Wall of the pump chamber 52, thus to accomplish the pumping operation. As the pump operates, the crescent shape cavity 58 decreases in size as it is moved in direction from the low pressure side toward the high pressure side of the abutment and increases in size as it is moved from the high pressure side toward the low pressure side of said abutment. During each revolution of the impeller axis, suction is created in the crescent shape cavity at the low pressure side of the pump, due to increasing space of the low pressure area or section of said crescent shape cavity, thus to cause fluid to enter the crescent shape cavity from the inlet chamber 65. and pressure is created in said crescent shape cavity at the high pressure side of the pump, due to decreasing space of the high pressure area or section of the crescent shape cavity, thus to'cause fluid to be compressed out of said crescent shape cavity and delivered to the outlet chamber 5.5.

The slot or groove 62 is constructed to provide a side wall 15 thereof at the side of the abutment 59 adjacent the pump outlet which will have larger surface area than does a side wall 16 of said slot or groove at the side of said abutment adjacent the pump inlet, no matter what may be the relative positions of the abutment 59 and the slot or groove 62 during operation of the pump. In the disclosure as made, the side wall I6 includes an elongated rib Tl which is well within the perimeter of the cylindrical impeller 51, is parallel with the abutment 59 and extends toward said abutment, while the side wall 15 includes a similar elongated rib '58, but disposed at the perimeter of said cylindrical impeller. The side wall T6 is cut away or back at the outer side of the elongated rib 11. The construction and arrangement are such that pressure of the high pressure side of the pump will be applied against an area of the side wall 15 of th slot or groove 82 at the adjacent side of the abutment which is of greater magnitude than is the area of the side wall 76 against which said pressure is applied at the opposite side of said abutment. Stated differently, the elongated rib TI constantly will be held in pressing engagement with or against the abutment 59 at the low pressure side of said abutment and of the pump, by reason of the fact that pressure at the high pressure side of said pump is exerted over a larger area of the side wall it than of the portion of the side wall 78 which is between the base of the slot or groove 62 and said elongated rib Ti. The cut-back portion of the side wall 16, at the outer side of the elongated rib 11, will be subjected only to low pressure at the low pressure side of the abutment and of the pump. Thus, differential in pressure between the lugh pressure side and the low pressure side of the pump is operative to the accomplishment of an effective separation or shut-off between said high pressure side and said low pressure side of said pump, said separation or shut-off of course being provided by the abutment 52 in cooperation with the elongated closure element or rib l'l retained in pressing engagement against said abutment under pressure of fluid at the high pressure side of the pump in excess of the pressure of fluid at the low pressure side of said pump.

As the external cylindrical wall of the impeller 5'. is caused to roll, slide or frictionally move or advance over the internal cylindrical wall of the pump chamber 52, there will be a retardation of the forward movement of said external wall of said impeller due to the fact that the cylindrical wall of the impeller has circumference less than that of th cylindrical wall of the pump chamber. Such retardation of movement of said impeller will cause the closure element or elongated rib ii of the impeller constantly to pressingly engage the low pressure side of the abutment to accomplish effectiv separation or shut-off between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the pum In fact, save for the abutment 58 itself and the engagement of the closure element or elongated rib T! of the impeller 57 therewith, said impeller would rotate in direction opposite that in which bodily moved during the operation of the pump. This for the reason that the frictional movement or advancement of the smaller external surface of the impeller over the larger internal surface of the pump chamber exerts a force upon said impeller which tends to rotate it on the crank or eccentric T3 in direction counter to that in which the impeller is moved. lhe engagement between the abutment 59 and the closure element or elongated rib H of the impeller resists the tendency of said impeller to rotate in direction opposite that in which it is forced to travel bodily, and the frictional force exerted against the impeller tending to rotate it in reverse direction is the measure of the pressure under which the separation or shut-off between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the pump is accomplished.

It will of course be underst ed that each of the two constructions and arrangements as h inbefore described for accomplishing or providing separation or shut-off between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of a rotary type pump of the nature as set forth is operative in and of itself to the production of its intended ervice, although both of the constructions and arrangements are incorporated in the pump illustrated in the drawings. One of said two constructions and arrangements depends for its effectiveness upon differential in pressure between the high pressure side and low pressure side of the pump, and the other depends for its effectiveness upon retardation of movement of the impeller as it advances.

The annular chamber l6 provided by the casing or housing I5 is adapted to contain fluid, such as oil, for example, and the electric motor 29 is adapted to be driven to actuate the rotary pump to cause fluid to be forced from the portion of the annular chamber l6 adjacent said electric motor, or above the piston or plunger 28, to the portion of said annular chamber adjacent the closure membe IT, o beneath said piston or plunger, thus to cause the piston or plunger to be actuated lengthwise of the annular chamber i6, against the resilient action of the compression coil spring 45, from the position of said piston or plunger as in 3 to position closer to the closure member or cover 13.

A by-pass 19 for the fluid leads from the space of the annular chamber 16 at the side of the disc frame 37 adjacent the closure member IT, or beneath the piston or plunger 28, upwardly through a valve cage integral with said disc frame and extending therefrom in direction toward the electric motor 29, or upwardly, to the space of said annular chamber at the side of the disc frame adjacent said electric motor, or above said piston or plunger. The by-pass 19 includes a port 8| through the outer or upper end of the valve cage 80 controlled by a ball valve 82 adapted to be pressingly engaged against a part-spherical valve seat 83 at the outer side of and surrounding the port 8| to preclude passage of fluid through said port, or to be removed from pressing engagement against said valve seat to permit passage of fluid through the port. It will be evident that when the ball valve 82 is in position to close the port 8|, fluid pumped to the space of the annular chamber H5 at the side of the piston or plunger 28 opposite the electric motor 29, or beneath said piston or plunger, by operation of said electric motor and the rotary pump actuated thereby, will cause the piston or plunger to be moved toward the closure member or cover l8, or elevated, but that upon the actuation of said ball valve 82 to open position, the compression coil spring, which is compressed b movement of the piston or plunger toward said closure member or cover 18, or elevation of said piston or plunger, will act to move the piston or plunge: toward the cover member H, or depress said piston or plunger, in the meantime forcing fluid to flow from position in the annular chamber 1 6 at the closure member I! side of the piston or plunger, or beneath said piston or plunger, through the by-pass l9 and its port 8% to position in said annular chamber at the closure member or cover i8 side of the piston or plunger, or above said piston or plunger.

An ordinary thermostatically responsive element 84, in remote relation to the device requiring motive power to effect its operation, as, for instance, in a room to be heated, is disclosed as a means for controlling a circuit for the electric motor 29, as well as means for controlling a circuit for an electro-magnet 85, including a usual coil and core, suitably and conveniently fixedly supported, as at 86, upon a surface and in. a concavity of the disc frame '-"i which are adjacent the ball valve 82. An armature 87 for the electro-magnet 85 includes an extension portion 68 of said armature for causing said ball valve 82 to be pressingly engaged against the part-spherical valve seat 83 in closing relation to the port 8I, or to be released from pressing engagement against said valve seat. More explicitly, the end portion of the armature 81 which is opposite the extension portion 88 of said armature is pivotally supported, as at 89, upon the electro-magnet 85, and a coil spring 88, having one of its ends 9| fastened to the end of the armature opposite its extension portion and its other end 82 fastened to the disc frame 31, is adapted to urge the armature in direction away from the electromagnet. A stop or limit piece 93, secured upon the upper end of the valve cage 88, as by a screw 94, and situated at the side of the extension portion 88 of the armature opposite the ball valve 82, is for the purpose of limiting the extent of movement of the armature 81 in direction away from the electro-magnet 85. The construction and arrangement are such that when the electro-magnet 85 is ole-energized, the coil spring 98 causes the armature 87 to be at its furthest distance away from the electro-magnet 85 and the extension portion 88 to be withdrawn from the ball valve 82, against the stop or limit piece 93, so that said ball valve is released from the part-spherical valve seat 83, and when said electro-magnet is energized, said armature is drawn up against the electro-magnet, counter to the action of said coil spring 98, to cause said extension portion 88 to pressingly engage the ball valve 82 and cause it to be pressingly engaged against said valve seat 83 in closing relation to said port 8 I.

The hydraulic regulator and its lever 88 can be applied to control any device or devices which require motive power to efiect their operation, as, for example, the draft and check dampers of a, furnace; valves controlling flow of steam, water, oil, gas, or other fluids; circulating fans or blowers; automatic stokers, intake and mixing valves or dampers; etc. Desirably, the construction and arrangement will be such that when the lever 26 is situated to correspond with the position of the piston or plunger 28 as in Fig. 3, the device or devices to be operated will be situated at the safety position of said device or devices.

Incoming wires 95 and 98 from a source of electrical energy lead to a transformer, shown in Fig. 8, including a primary 9'! of said transformer and a secondary 98 of the transformer. One side of the secondary 98 is connected by a lead wire 99 with the thermostatically responsive element 84, and the other side of said secondary is connected by a lead wire I88 with one terminal of the electro-magnet 85. A lead wire I8I extends from a fixed terminal I82, adapted to be engaged by the thermostatically responsive element 84, to the other terminal of said electromagnet 85.

A controller for the circuit of the electric motor 29 is situated inside the annular chamber I8 as disclosed, and includes a fixed contact element I83 and a movable contact element I84, both insulatively mounted, as at I85, upon the closure member or cover I8. A pivot for the movable contact element I84 is denoted I86, and a coil spring I91 is adapted to the purpose of retaining the movable contact element I84 normally in engagement with the fixed contact element I83. Means for causing said fixed contact element I83 and movable contact element I84 to become disengaged consists, in the disclosure as made, of an insulating finger I 08 upon the base of the motor shell 3| adapted to engage the movable contact element I84 upon movement of the piston or plunger 28 with electric motor 29 in direction toward and adjacent to the closure member or cover I8 and cause said movable contact element to be pushed away, upwardly as shown, from the fixed contact member. Stated diiferently, the insulating finger I88 causes the contact elements I83 and I84 to be separated when the piston or plunger 28 approaches or reaches the limit of its upstroke.

A lead wire I89 extends from the lead wire I8I to one terminal of the electric motor 29, a lead wire H8 extends from the lead wire I88 to the fixed contact element I83, and a lead wire III is connected between the other terminal of said electric motor and the movable contact element I84.

Supposing the piston or plunger 23 to be situated as in Fig. 3', with the lever 28 in position to correspond, when a room or space to be warmed calls for heat and the thermostatically responsive element 84 as a consequence engages the fixed terminal I82, upon the coming into engagement of said element 84 and terminal I82 a circuit is set up through the electro-magnet 85, and a different circuit is set up through the electric motor 29. The circuit through said electro-magnet is traced from the secondary 98 through the lead wire 99 to said element 84, thence through the terminal I82 and the lead wire I8I to the electro-magnet and thence through the lead wire I88 back to the secondary, and a circuit through said electric motor 29 is traced from the secondary 88 through the lead wire 99 to said element 84, thence through the terminal I82 and the lead wires HM and I89 to the electric motor and thence through the lead wire I I I, the movable contact element I84, the fixed contact element I83 and the lead wires H8 and I88 back to the secondary.

In Fig. 8 the thermostatically responsive element 84 has engaged the fixed terminal I82 in response to a call for heat by the room or space, and the electric motor 29 has operated to elevate the piston or plunger 28, with said electric motor and the insulating finger I88, to position where said insulating finger is spaced but a slight distance from the movable contact element I84. When said element 84 and terminal I82 became engaged as in Fig. 8 both the electric motor 29 and the electro-magnet 85 became energized. As a consequence, said electro-magnet immediately caused the ball valve 82 to be seated in closing relation to the port 8|, in the manner as hereinbefore set forth, and said electric motor immediately commenced to operate the rotary pump of the hydraulic regulator thus to cause the piston or plunger to have movement longitudinally of the casing or housing I5, also in the manner as before described. As is evident, by continued movement of the insulating finger I88 from its position as in Fig. 8 toward and to the movable contact element I84, supported upon the closure member or cover I8, said movable contact element will be separated from the fixed contact element I83 thus to break the circuit including the electric motor 29. With breaking of the motor circuit said electric motor will cease operation and the piston or plunger 28, with appurtenances, will remain at the position adjacent the closure member or cover I8 to which carried by actuation of said electric motor. Obviously, the circuit including the electro-magnet 85 will remain madeas long as the room or space continues its call for heat and the element 84 and terminal 32 as a consequence remain engaged, and the ball valve 82 will remain seated to preclude operation of the piston or plunger in direction opposite that in which said piston or plunger was caused to be moved by the electric motor until the occasion Of the breaking of the circuit including said electro-magnet 85 by separation of the element 84 from the terminal I02.

When the room or space reaches the desired and predetermined temperature, and the thermostatically responsive element S4 resultantly becomes removed from the fixed terminal I02, to break the circuit including the electro-magnet 85, the ball valve 82 is released from the partspherical seat 83 about the port 8I. Upon release of said ball valve 82 the compression coil spring 45 acts to push the piston or plunger 28, with appurtenances, in direction toward the closure member H, or downwardly, while fluid is bypassed, as hereinbefore set forth, from the space at the closure member Il' side to the space at the closure member or cover I8 side of said piston or plunger. Evidently, when the piston or plunger 28 is at the limit of its stroke which takes it near est the closure member or cover I8 and contact is then broken at the thermostatically responsive element 84 and the terminal I02, said piston or plunger is moved by the compression coil spring 45 to its position as in Fig. 3, at or adjacent to the closure member II.

Especial attention is called to the fact that the present hydraulic regulator is so constructed that should the electrical operating current fail, the parts of said regulator automatically can situate themselves at the safety position of a device or devices to be operated. That is to say, upon failure of the operating current, the electric motor 29 and the electro-magnet 85 will of course be tie-energized, obviously to allow the piston or plunger 28 to be situated at the minimum heat producing condition of the lever 2 6.

It will be evident that the present regulator could be modified to operate a device or devices requiring motive power to efiect their operation in a greater number of stages than as illustrated and described.

The thermostatically responsive element 84 could be replaced by actuating means for the hydraulic regulator of entirely different type, as, for example, by mechanically propelled elements of a mechanism for accomplishing some operation or sequence of operations.

In Fig. 9 there is disclosed an hydraulic regulator of modified construction made according to the invention. In many respects the hydraulic regulator of Fig. 9 is of the same construction as the hydraulic regulator hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 7, and parts in said Fig. 9 which are the same as equivalent parts in said Figs. 1 to 7 beer similar reference numerals.

More explicity, the novel and improved hydraulic regulator of the invention is disclosed in Fig. 9 as when set up to control, or open and close, a valve by substantially direct operation of said valve, instead of through the instrumentality of a lever such as 26 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The casing or housing I, equivalent to the casing or housing l 5, is inverted, and includes end closure members I? and I8 which are equivalent to the end closure members I! and I8 and for the same purpose. An annular stop member 56, equivalent to the annular stop member 56, limits the extent of movement of the piston or plunger 28 in direction away from the closure member I8 by coming into engagement with the closure member I I, precisely as before set forth.

The rod or connecting rod 30 of the disclosure as in Fig. 3 is omitted from the disclosure as in Fig. 9, and is replaced by a valve stem connecting rod H2 having one of its end portions threaded, as at H3, into the annular stop member 56'. A valve I I4 is rigidly supported upon the end of said valve stem connecting rod H2 spaced from or opposite said annular stop member 56, and said valve H4 is adapted to be in the closed position of valve seats H5 of a fitting I I 6 when the piston or plunger 28 is situated as in Fig. 9, or adjacent the closure member I1, and in the open position of said valve seats I I5 when said piston or plunger 28 is situated adjacent the closure member I8, as set forth in connection with the disclosure of Figs. 1 to 7.

A portion of the length of the valve stem connecting rod H2 which is adjacent the closure member IT is slidably arranged, as at I I l, in said mentioned closure member, and a stufling box I I8 is for precluding the passage of fluid out of the annular chamber It by way of the opening in the closure member IT through which said valve stem connecting rod passes. A dome-shape member H9 is secured in any suitable and convenient manner against the outer surface of the closure member I1 and is situated in surrounding relation to the stuffing box I I8. A portion of the length of said valve stem connecting rod H2 adjacent the fitting I I6 is slidably arranged, as at I20, in a second stufling box I2l situated within the dome-shape member I I9 and assembled with the adjacent end of a tubular connecting member I22 which leads to said fitting I IS. The end portion of the tubular connecting member I22 which has the stufiing box I2I is threaded, as at I23, in an opening through a central portion of said dome-shape member spaced from the closure member I1, and the dome-shape member H9 is in surrounding relation to said stufiing box I2I'. The end portion of the valve stem connecting rod I I2 adjacent the valve I I4 is freely movable longitudinally in the tubular connecting member I22.

The hydraulic regulator of Fig. 9 operates in about the manner as before described, and can include or employ a Wiring system as disclosed in Fig. 8.

Supposing the piston or plunger 28 of the hydraulic regulator as illustrated in Fig. 9 to be situated as there shown, against the closure member II, with the valve H4 in closing relation to the valve seats I I5, when a room or space to be warmed calls for heat and a thermostatically responsive element, such as the element 84 in a wiring system as disclosed in Fig. 8, as a consequence engages a fixed terminal, such as I02 in said Fig, 8, upon the coming into engagement of said element 84 and terminal I02 separate circuits are set up through the electro magnet 85 and the electric motor 29, as hereinbefore set forth, each circuit including the termostatically responsive element 84 and the fixed terminal I02, and said electro-magnet and said electric motor become energized. Immediately upon energization of the electro-magnet this causes the ball valve, such as 82, to be seated, and immediately upon energization of the electric motor this commences to operate the rotary pump of Fig. 9 to cause the piston or plunger to have movement longitudinally of the casing or housing I5 and thus cause the valve stem connecting rod H2 to be slid in its bearings, inwardly of said casing or housing I5, and the valve IIII't be moved to open position. When said valve I I4 is fully opened, or opened to an extent which was predetermined, the insulating finger I08 of Fig. 9 is adapted to engage the movable contact element I04 and cause it to be separated from the fixed contact element I03, thus to break the motor circuit and cause the electric motor to cease its operation. The piston or plunger 28, with appurtenances, will remain at the position adjacent the closure member I8 to which carried by actuation of the electric motor when the motor circuit is broken, by reason of the fact that the electro-magnet remains energized until the element 84 and terminal I62 are separated, as before explained.

When the room or space reaches the desired and predetermined temperature, and thus causes the thermostatically responsive element 84 and the fixed terminal I02 to become separated, the

electro-magnet circuit is broken and the ball valve is released from the port of the by-pass. The compression coil spring 45, seated between the closure member I8 and the piston or plunger 28, acts to push said piston or plunger, with appurtenances, back to the position in which disclosed in Fig. 9, when the electro-magnet circuit is broken, and concurrently with the just mentioned movement of said piston and plunger, the valve II4 will become engaged against the valve seats H5, in closing relation to said valve seats.

Obviously, upon failure of current said valve IM will be moved to its closed condition by the tensile coil spring 45.

The motor shel1 3! is of cup-like configuration, and the elements, including the stator and rotor or armature, of the electric motor are supported within said motor shell in spaced relaer, with the electric motor, the open or lower side of the motor shell will reach elevation above the level of fluid or oil in the annular chamber I I6 so that atmospheric air will fill the interior space of said motor shell, and upon depression of said piston or plunger, with said electric motor, the air will be compressed somewhat within the motor shell by the fluid or oil, but will, in turn,

prevent the fluid or oil from reaching the electric motor elements.

What is claimed is:

1. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, the combination with an hydraulically operated piston and means actuated by said piston and operative upon said device, of a pump assembled with said piston adapted to force fluid to actuate the piston in one direction, a motor for driving said pump, means independent of said motor and pump for actuating said piston in the opposite direction, a valve for trapping fluid at a side of said piston thus to preclude operation of the piston by said independent means, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means in the remotely controlled electrical circuit for causing said motor operating circuit and said remotely controlled electrical circuit to be made, means responsive to actuation of said hydraulically operated piston for breaking said motor operating circuit, and means controlled by said remotely controlled electrical circuit for causing said valve to be in closed condition when the remotely controlled electrical circuit is made and in open condition when said remotely controlled electrical circuit is broken.

2. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, a member for actuating said device, a pump assembled with the member for forcing fluid to actuate the member in one direction, a motor for actuating said pump, means for actuating said member in the opposite direction, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means for closing each of said electrical circuits, a valve adapted to be closed during the time said motor operating circuit is closed to enable the building up of pressure for operating said member and to preclude actuation of said member in direction opposite that in which the member is actuated by said pump and to be open when the remotely controlled electrical circuit is broken to allow said member to be actuated in said opposite direction, and means responsive to actuation of said member by fluid forced by said pump for breaking said motor operating circuit.

3. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, a member for actuating said device, a pump assembled with said member for forcing fluid to actuate the member in one direction, a motor for actuating said pump, means for actuating said member in the opposite direction, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means for closing each of said electrical circuits, a valve adapted to be closed durin the time said motor operating circuit is closed to enable the building up of pressure for operating said member and to preclude actuation of said member in direction opposite that in which the member is actuated by said pump and to be open when the remotely controlled electrical circuit is broken to allow said member to be actuated in said opposite direction, means assembled with said member for controlling said valve, and means responsive to actuation of said member by fluid forced by said pump for breaking said motor operating circuit.

4. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power t elfect its operation, a member for actuating said device, a pump assembled with said member for forcing fluid to actuate the member in one direction, a motor assembled with said member for actuating said pump, means for actuating said member in the opposite direction, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means for closing each of said electrical circuits, a valve adapted to be closed during the time said motor operating circuit is closed to enable the building up of pressure for operating said member and to preclude actuation of said member in direction opposite that in which the member is actuated by said pump and to be open when the remotely controlled electrical circuit is open to allow said member to be actuated in said opposite direction, means including an electro-magnet in said remotely controlled electrical circuit and assembled with said member for controlling said valve, and means responsive to actuation of said member by fluid forced by said pump for breaking said motor operating circuit.

5. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, the combination with mechanism including a piston for moving said device both to an op erating and to a safety position and a pump assembled with said piston, of a motor for actuating said pump to cause said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said operating position, means independent of said motor and pump for actuating said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said safety position, a valve for controlling the operations of said mechanism and its piston by both said motor and said independent means, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit adapted to be closed when said motor circuit is closed, means in the remotely controlled electrical circuit actuatable when said remotely controlled electrical circuit is closed to position said valve 50 that said motor and pump can cause said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said operating position and so that said valve thereafter can cause the device to remain in said operating position as long as said remote control electrical circuit remains closed, said last mentioned means being actuatable when said remotely controlled electrical circuit is broken to position said valve So that said independent means can actuate said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said safety position, and means forbreaking said motor operating circuit when said mechanism and its piston have moved said device to said operating position.

6. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to efiect its operation, the combination with mechanism including a piston for moving said device both to an operating and to a safety position and a pump assembled with said piston, of a motor for actuating said pump to cause said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said operating position, means independent of said motor and pump for actuating said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said safety position, a valve for controlling the operations of said mechanism and its piston by both said motor and said independent means, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit adapted to be closed when said motor circuit is closed, means constituted as an electro-magnet in said remotely controlled electrical circuit and assembled with said piston actuatable when the remotely controlled electrical circuit is closed to position said valve so that said motor and pump can cause said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said operating position and so that said valve thereafter can cause the device to remain in said. operating position as long as said remote control electrical circuit remains closed, said last mentioned means being actuatable when said remotely controlled electrical circuit is broken to position said valve so that said independent means can actuate said mechanism and its piston to move said device to said safety position, and means for breaking said motor operating circuit when said mechanism and its piston have moved said device to said operating position.

'7. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, hydraulically operated mechanism comprising a fluid containing cylinder, a piston therein, a pump assembled with said piston for forcing fluid into one end portion of said cylinder to move said piston longitudinally of the cylinder toward the opposite end portion thereof, means in said opposite end portion of the cylinder for urging said piston longitudinally of said cylinder in direction opposite that in which the piston is moved by said fluid, a motor for actuating said pump, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means operatively connecting said piston with said device, a by-pass for allowing flow of fluid from said end portion of said cylinder and past said piston into said opposite end portion of the cylinder, a valve for controlling said bypass, means in said remotely controlled electrical circuit for causing said motor operating circuit to be made and for concurrently causing said valve to be closed, and means actuated by said piston for breaking said motor operating circuit while leaving said valve closed, said remotely controlled circuit being adapted to be broken to cause said valve to be open.

8. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, hydraulically operated mechanism comprising a fluid containing cylinder, a piston therein, pump assembled with said piston for forcing fluid into one end portion of said cylinder to move said piston longitudinally of the cylindcr toward the opposite end portion thereof, means in said opposite end portion of the cylinder for urging said piston longitudinally of said cylinder direction opposite that in which the piston is moved by said fluid, a motor for actuating said pump, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means operatively connecting said piston with said device, a by-pass through said piston for allowing flow of fluid from said end portion of said cylinder and past said piston into said opposite end portion of the cylinder, a valve for controlling said by-pass, means in said remotely controlled electrical circuit for causing said m0- tor operating circuit to be made and for concurrently causing said valve to be closed, and means actuated by said piston for breaking said motor operating circuit while leaving said valve closed.

9. In a regulator for the remote control of a device requiring motive power to effect its operation, hydraulically operated mechanism comprising a fluid containing cylinder, a piston therein, a pump assembled with said piston for forcing fluid into one end portion of said cylinder to more said piston longitudinally of the cylinder toward the opposite end portion of the cylinder, means for urging said piston longitudinally of said cylinder in direction opposite that in which the piston is moved by said fluid, a motor assembled with said piston for actuating said pump, an operating electrical circuit for said motor, a remotely controlled electrical circuit, means operatively connecting said piston with said device, a by-pass through said piston for allowing flow of fluid from said end portion of said cylinder and past said piston into said opposite end portion of the cylinder, a valve for controlling said by-pass, means constituted as an electro-magnet in said remotely controlled electrical circuit including an armature for causing said valve to be closed, said electro-magnet being supported upon said piston, means for closing said operating electrical circuit for said motor and said remotely controlled electrical circuit, and means actuated by said piston for said piston and situated in said cylinder, said electric motor including a cup-like shell having an open side Within said cylinder and adjacent said piston but otherwise closed and motor elements situated within said cup-like shell substantially clear of fluid in said cylinder.

EVERETT H. WHITE. 

